La Comunidad Hispana to bring health services to Oxford

10/06/2015 12:00PM
● By Richard Gaw

By Richard L. Gaw, Staff Writer

For the past 40 years, La Communidad Hispana has been the proverbial supporting hand for thousands of Hispanic families in the Kennett Square community. By the end of the year, that hand will reach farther than ever before.

Beginning this December, La Comunidad Hispana will open a new community health center in the Oxford area. The new center – which will be located in the Oxford Professional Center at 301 North 3rd Street -- will provide critical health services for both uninsured and insured residents of Oxford and the surrounding areas, including Lincoln University, Cochranville, Nottingham, Oxford and West Grove.

"With our mission to help people stay healthy, build strong families and lead productive, fulfilling lives, the Board of Directors is excited to expand our innovative health care model to residents in Oxford and surrounding communities," said Paul Huberty, Chairman of La Communidad's Board of Directors.

La Communidad's presence in Oxford will represent the next step in its health care reach, building on the success of its federally-qualified health center in Kennett Square, which currently serves 5,500 individuals. The Oxford location will provide an integrated approach that brings all services together into a singular, seamless model of care that empowers patients to attain more favorable and enduring positive health outcomes. Specific primary health care services will include family planning, health screenings, immunizations, tobacco cessation outreach and well child care.

The opening of the new health center – which was financed through federal funding and community support – comes at a very crucial time for the Hispanic community of Oxford. The area has the largest number of low-income individuals and comprises 48 percent of all the low income population in the Oxford service area, many of whom are forced to travel 10 to 20 miles to the nearest federally qualified health center.

"We are most grateful to the people of Southern Chester County for their assistance and for the generous financial support that made the expansion possible," said Alisa Jones, President and CEO of LCH. "The services are vitally needed in this section of the county. The development of a health center in Oxford strengthens our ability to reach and improve the health status of some of the most vulnerable families in our region.

"Currently, one third of La Communidad's patients are from the Oxford service area," Janes added. "With the new health center in Oxford we will be able to reach those who are unable to travel to distant facilities, improving access to care and serving even more people closer to home."

In recognition for its high standards of care, La Communidad holds the status of being a Level 2 Medical Home from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Half of its budget is supported by charitable support from the community, with insurance, fees and grants comprising the other half. More than 70 percent of its patients are uninsured, and most are below federal poverty levels.

"The Oxford area will benefit greatly from LCH joining existing community services that aim to improve the lives of families," said Carrie Freeman, United Way of Southern Chester County chief executive officer. "I know first-hand of the great work La Communidad does in the Kennett Square area and I’m happy to see them cast an even broader safety net in support of the low-income and vulnerable of Southern Chester County."